June 4, 2017 — CDK Global’s pending acquisition of competitor Auto/Mate is a brilliant deal that should make investors happy. With only 1,300 or so dealerships in play and a price tag that won’t dent the bottom line (although Auto/Mate will get a nice multiple) it isn’t that big of a deal on the surface.…
May 29, 2017 — Neural nets will be a critical part of enabling autonomous vehicles to become a reality, says Venture Capitalist Steve Jurvetson. How does that impact dealers? One of the big challenges over the next few years for automakers will be how to manage the massive amounts of data created by the connected…
May 24, 2017 — CDK Global is announcing this morning that it is acquiring Auto/Mate Dealership Systems. The move, which will further consolidate the dealer management system (DMS) space, should be completed in late summer once the regulatory process runs its course. Financial terms for the deal have not been disclosed yet. Auto/Mate was started as… Continue Reading
May 22, 2017 — Imagine a world where automotive vehicles are no longer depreciating assets, but are profit generating machines. That world may be here much sooner than we think. Automakers are beginning to explore blockchain, a new and disruptive technology that may prove to be critical to the creation of a mobile ecosystem where autonomous… Continue Reading
May 22, 2017 — The downward trend in dealership buy-sell activity which began in 2016 continued into the first quarter of this year with a 36% year-over-year decline, according to data compiled by The Banks Report. Also in the first quarter report, Audi continues to be aggressive in using the Right of First Refusal to…
May 22, 2017 — Coming off its second most profitable year ever, Ford Motor Co. has decided to replace its CEO and President Mark Fields. The announcement is expected this morning, according to numerous media reports breaking Sunday night. Jim Hackett, former board Ford member and current head of the automaker’s mobility division, is being named… Continue Reading
May 14, 2017 — Acquisition activity among auto retail vendors is slowly rebounding following a first quarter that brought only one deal. In recent weeks, Dominion Web Solutions, Drivin, Automatic and World Dealer were acquired while Carvana launched an initial public offering (IPO). Next up is Cars.com which will begin trading on the New York…
May 9, 2017 — Tesla’s moment of truth is nearly here. This year’s introduction of its Model 3 may be the auto industry’s most critical vehicle launch since Ford’s Model T took over America’s roads more than a century ago. Whether the fledgling company becomes the ultimate disruptor and a truly viable automaker will be determined by the…
May 2, 2017 — Carvana’s less than stellar first couple of days on the New York Stock Exchange raises questions not only about its business model, but could also impact the IPO plans of other companies in the automotive retail space. The online used vehicle retailer launched its initial public offering last Friday raising $225 million on the…
May 2, 2017 — Authenticom, a firm providing data integration services to car dealers, filed a lawsuit late yesterday against CDK Global and Reynolds and Reynolds alleging the two companies engaged in antitrust practices. The suit could have far-reaching implications — not only on the companies involved, but also on the entire automotive retail space. It’s another chapter… Continue Reading